Lead Electrical Controls Engineering Manager

Lead Electrical Controls Engineering Manager

Lead Electrical Controls Engineering Manager - Position Overview

Reports To: Executive Engineering & Operations Leadership
Department: Engineering

The Controls Engineering Manager leads controls engineering and development teams to ensure the successful delivery of industrial automation and control system solutions that meet customer and operational requirements. This role is responsible for driving consistency and standardization across PLC and HMI development while maintaining internal engineering standards and best practices. The position requires strong technical expertise in industrial controls systems along with proven leadership and team management capabilities.

This individual also serves as a backup resource for controls engineering leadership functions related to both project execution and development activities.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of controls engineers and technical staff.
• Establish departmental priorities, assign workloads, and manage engineering resources effectively.
• Support alignment between engineering objectives and broader business goals.
• Promote continuous improvement initiatives through collaboration and feedback across departments.
• Identify technical risks and provide mitigation recommendations to leadership.
• Assist with staffing evaluations and long-term resource planning.
• Guide team members through technical challenges and complex troubleshooting efforts.
• Manage controls engineering activities to support successful project delivery and product quality.
• Collaborate with project management, electrical design, software, CAD, production, and product teams.
• Provide technical support for PLC programming, HMI/SCADA configuration, and industrial communications.
• Review engineering deliverables for accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
• Assist with controls troubleshooting, commissioning support, and customer-facing technical coordination.
• Support development of engineering standards, reusable code libraries, and internal documentation practices.
• Contribute to programming labor estimates and technical planning activities.
• Participate in technical training and knowledge-sharing initiatives across engineering teams.

• Minimum 5 years of controls engineering experience with at least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
• Experience managing engineering teams, project deliverables, and technical processes simultaneously.
• Background working in structured engineering environments utilizing standards, reusable code, and agile/sprint methodologies.

• PLC programming and HMI/SCADA development experience using modern automation platforms.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols and controls integration.
• Experience conducting peer reviews, mentoring engineers, and supporting technical development initiatives.
• Exposure to agile project delivery and sprint planning methodologies.

• PLC logic development and troubleshooting
• HMI/SCADA system configuration and visualization
• Shared code libraries and engineering documentation systems
• Microsoft Office and general engineering software tools
• Debugging and testing across multiple automation platforms

• Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to interface effectively with technical teams and customers.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, process documentation, and technical procedures.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Limited travel within North America may occasionally be required.